Posted on 12/31/2002 8:36:40 PM PST by Dallas
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is being asked by an animal advocacy group to support legislation for better animal treatment to make up for fraudulently adopting cats from animal shelters then experimenting on and killing them while he was a medical student.
A Dec. 31 letter from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked Frist to make amends by pressing for reforms that would replace old-style tests where animals are subjected to painful and sometimes deadly procedures with newer, more humane approaches. They also requested that he help fund research to find non-animal alternatives.
Frist acknowledged in a 1989 book that he routinely killed cats while an ambitious medical student at Harvard Medical School in the 1970s. His office said it had no record on how many cats died. Frist disclosed that he went to animal shelters and pretended to adopt the cats, telling shelter personnel he intended to keep them as pets. Instead he used them to sharpen his surgical skills, killing them in the process.
The newly elected leader of the Senate Republicans revealed the practice in his book "Transplant: A Heart Surgeon's Account of the Life-and-Death Dramas of the New Medicine."
"It was a heinous and dishonest thing to do," Frist wrote, in a passage quoted by The Boston Globe. On Tuesday, Frist's press aide, Nick Smith, told United Press International that "Senator Frist denounces the activities that he did while he was in medical school -- as he has done before."
It is not clear if Frist's actions were illegal. Many states ban shelters from knowingly letting their animals be taken for such purposes.
Massachusetts put such a ban in place in 1983. Frist was a student in the Boston area from 1974 to 1978. A total of 14 states have passed such laws. Four states -- Iowa, Minnesota, Utah and Oklahoma -- still have laws that allow labs to demand the release of animals for experimental use.
But such regulations, called pound seizure laws, only govern the actions of the shelters.
"The pound seizure law probably would not apply there because the shelter did not intentionally sell the animal to him for this purpose," said Debora Bresch, a lawyer and a lobbyist for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"They thought they were adopting the animal out to him," said Bresch. "What he did was fraudulent and probably was illegal."
"It would probably would be considered cruel back even then," added Stephen Musso, senior vice president and chief of operations of ASPCA.
Though Musso said he personally had not heard about the Frist incident, he told UPI, "We wouldn't want to see anybody taking an animal out of an animal shelter and doing anything with it -- first of all that would be harmful; second of all, different than the intentions that they gave to the people at that shelter or humane organization."
Attitudes toward animal experimentation have shifted, said Gary Patronek, director of the Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy in North Grafton, Mass.
"The fact that laws have passed prohibiting the practice of pound seizure in 14 states is evidence of the fact that society's attitudes have changed," Patronek told UPI. "The laws reflect the attitudes. If there isn't a broad social consensus about something, then typically the laws don't change."
The demographics have changed also. By the end of 2000, a total of 34 percent of American households had at least one cat -- a sharp rise of 8 percent in only two years. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association also said in their 2001-2002 National Pet Owner Survey that 39 percent of all U.S. households owned at least one dog in 2000, about the same percentage as in 1998.
Though Frist's practice has been known for 11 years, the matter appears to be gathering new attention since his election as Senate majority leader. E-mail with copies of news articles mentioning the incident are bouncing around the Internet, said Bresch.
One Frist supporter said the senator's opponents are fueling the interest in the issue.
"What is happening here is that people are doing profiles of the senator, and they are desperate to find something wrong with him and to come up with something bad in his past," he pointed out.
Whether Frist will come to the aid of animal legislative causes remains to be seen. His spokesman said they had not seen the PETA letter and therefore would not comment on it.
PETA, normally more combative and high-profile, took a somewhat restrained tone in its letter. There was no mistaking PETA's opinion, however, as the organization asked Frist to make an effort on the animals' behalf.
"There could be no better way of making some small amends to those animals whose trust you betrayed when you took them from shelters," the letter said.
(With reporting by Nicholas M. Horrock in Washington)
Of course lying about it was wrong.
The guy was enthusiatic.
Have you ever seen surgery up close?
I want a guy who practices a lot.
He was in college, not in public office.
The liberals and PETA have no problem with partial birth abortion, or abortion of any kind, but are so hypocritical as to try and make an issue out of this.
I would wait until it is proved he was slicing up cats last year before I would make a big deal out of it.
Now if he was a laywer, it would be a big deal.
He is a heart surgeon, the toughest job in surgery.
That costs money too. You think gassing and burying is free???
1. Many don't bury them....they burn them.
2. They SELL them to schools for study. I suppose you want that income stopped?
Jeffery Dahmer practiced a lot. Would you like to have him operate on you?
REAL doctors practice on cadavers.
What hatred, what cruelty must reside in the heart of good ‘ol putupon that he would see no wrong in the dispatch of such warm and fuzzy critters known as cats to their just reward? Could it be that not being under the spell of such creatures, an enchantment induced by a purr from innards of an animal incased in lovely fur, that his senses of sight and smell reveal the real truth about such animals?
Consider, if you will, the actions of 2 cats, one orange and one gray, on putupon’s property.
In the pipe, under putupon’s driveway reside a population of bull frogs. For many generations these bull frogs have lived in peace and harmony, delighting the children of his neighborhood. Children in college now, majoring in biology, acquired their first love of nature by observing these fine amphibians as pre-schoolers. The tradition continues to this day. Today, children in strollers on their daily walks, insist their parents stop to see these creatures as they sun at the ends of the pipe. Some get quite large, and the children give them names. The biggest one always seems to get the name of Kermit.
The frogs always like to leave the safety of their pipe when it rains, especially at night, and the two aforementioned cats take advantage of this. They sneak over while the frogs are vulnerable, and tease them, enjoying their helplessness, able only to take short hops in a feeble attempt to escape.
On a dark and stormy night last spring, putupon had to take a video back to Blockbuster. Caution had to be exercised while leaving as Kermit himself was out, enjoying one the last rains we have seen around here for a while, in the middle of the driveway.
Returning from the Blockbuster about 10 minutes later, there was the gray cat, tormenting Kermit. When putupon stopped his car at the driveway entrance, the gray cat, realizing the fun part of his endeavors were about to end, grabbed Kermit and started to run. Putupon was by this time out of the car giving chase. Gray cat, in the excitement of the minute, dropped Kermit and escaped into the night.
Shattered and shaken, an upset putupon picked up the stunned and lacerated Kermit, gently placed him in water at the end of the pipe, went inside and told Mrs. putupon the bad news. The evening prayers that night focused mainly on Kermit’s recovery from the merciless assault by the gray cat.
Alas, Kermit’s return to health was not to be. putupon arrived home from work the following evening, only to find little Ashley and Jerry, the four and five year olds from next door, and six of their playmates whom their mother keeps during the day, in an extreme state agitation, bawling uncontrollably at downhill end of the pipe (which is near the property line with Ashley and Jerry’s house.)
Yes, you guessed it, there at the end of the pipe lay an upside down and very dead Kermit; fatal gashes, eviscerated organs exposed in the afternoon sun for all to see, destroying the innocence of helpless children.
The next day was the orange cat’s turn.
The large crepe myrtle in the front yard is the favorite of cardinals. They love to eat the numerous buds before they blossom. A couple had decided to build a nest there. We delighted when three babies appeared in the nest. Proud parents busily rounded up bugs from the yard, returning to the nest with them to feed their impatient chirping young.
Sitting where I am now, at my computer, I glanced out the window just as the orange cat pounced on the cardinal. By the time I got to scene, the cat was 50 feet away running south, leaving behind only a bright red spot of feathers and blood, a few miscellaneous entrails, and an extremely distraught screeching mother cardinal, hoping from branch to branch in despair. The difficulties of a widowed mother cardinal to feed and raise three babies were not to last long, however, for the next day the nest was found on the ground, babies gone. The crime was not witnessed, yet the prime suspect remains the orange cat.
Over the summer, these two cats have been responsible for the known deaths of two additional carolina wrens, three robins, and a fly catcher that has a crest that looks like a Mohawk haircut who returns every year in the spring from South America. We are sure going to miss him next year. It was always fun to watch his amazing aerobatics as he chased the flies.
In addition to the frogs and birds these cats have, they and other cats have also been caught in the past victimizing lizards, small snakes, and chipmunks.
Those who see real nature of cats recognize that they are demons from Hell, sent to earth by Satan himself. They, like all the Devil’s works, come disguised in attractive packaging, in order to dupe gullible people into become their keepers and protectors.. Yes, these deceptive creatures use their false beauty to ensnare people in the grip of Satan. Shave a cat bald, and the attractive packaging disappears. Their true appearance becomes remarkably similar to that of the gargoyles on the exterior of ancient cathedrals, an accurate representation of hellish demons.
Once tricked into the service of the Devil, these keepers of the cats begin to behave irrationally. Some collect ten, twenty, or more of these imps and demons. They let them have free reign of their houses, even letting them track bacteria and other filth which collects on their paws across kitchen counter tops and dining room tables, and spreading a foul odor which permeates to the very framing of the abode, yet oblivious to the fact that friends and relatives alike always have an excuse for not being able to accept invitations to their homes.
Yes, under the spell of these nasty creatures known as cats, these selfish and inconsiderate people let the animals out to roam far and wide, spraying pee, spreading disease, and murdering innocent wildlife.
Anyone who acts to protect their property from the assault is labeled cruel and inhuman by the perpetrators and enablers of demons. This is a tactic used by numerous agents of Satan in various endeavors. Clintons blame Vast Right Wing Conspirators, Republicans, Ken Starr, Linda Tripp, and so on for their misdeeds. Islamists blame the west for having to terrorize us. And cat haters are called inhumane though the cats are who kill all forms of innocent wildlife and spread disease.
To equate youthful gung ho enthusiasm in the pursuit of SAVING HUMAN LIVES to Klintoonesque debaucherey is unwarranted.
Your analogy equating Frist to a homosexual cannibal serial killer is profane.
Of course lying about it was wrong.
Yup.
The guy was enthusiatic.
Yeah..just like Clinton was about remaining President after he lied....
Have you ever seen surgery up close?
Only on tv..why? Does it matter? If I never saw a surgery I should accept his sneakiness?
I want a guy who practices a lot.
So do I...but on people.
He was in college, not in public office.
He is now though isn't he. Would you want the liar of today in public office tomorrow? They're usually called Liberals.
The liberals and PETA have no problem with partial birth abortion, or abortion of any kind, but are so hypocritical as to try and make an issue out of this.
What does this have to do with the price of tea in china?
I would wait until it is proved he was slicing up cats last year before I would make a big deal out of it.
He admitted lying....it's already proven I think....unless the article is bogus. I personally think it was a good thing for him to do ..admitting it ...like he was asking forgiveness....maybe he did help animals somehow to help him forgive himeself...if he really is sorry.....
Now if he was a laywer, it would be a big deal.
Yeah...you're right...he's only going to be the Majority Leader of the Republican party. No biggie.
He is a heart surgeon, the toughest job in surgery.
I admire him for taking on that job...
LOL!!!!
Those cats must have heard about what Frist was doing and decided to do their own surgery on frogs.
We have 2 indoor and 2 outdoor cats.
They occasionally drag in or capture the odd stray bird or lizard, as is their nature.
They are not Satan spawn, but watch out for the ORANGE ones.
BINGO!
I know a real doctor who is a big time transplant surgeon here in my town. He used beagles to see if he could replace tracea segments with intestine back when he was a resident in the late '60's/early '70s. He should have used cats instead (it didn't work).
How do you know that the animal was not humanely euthanized?
You and your cats have nothing to fear from Frist.
Can you say the same about PETA and the rats?
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